Assistance program · Pennsylvania
Keystone Forgivable in Ten Years Loan Program (K-FIT)
PHFA second loan of 5% of the price (or the appraised value, whichever is lower) for the down payment and closing costs, forgiven 10% each year over ten years; it goes with the Keystone Home Loan mortgage
At a glance
- Most it gives, per the source
- Up to 5% of the price
- What its page says; your amount depends on the price and the loan.
- Kind of help
- Forgivable
- Second loan forgiven if you stay in the home
- First-time buyer?
- Not stated — ask
- The source does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer
- Minimum credit score
- 660
- The minimum the source asks for; a lender may ask for more.
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
- Against the program's official page.
Type of help
What it is
- Second loan forgiven if you stay in the home
What it gives
Up to 5% of the price
Source text
Eligible borrowers may receive five percent (5%) of the lesser of the purchase price or appraised value with no maximum dollar limit in downpayment and closing cost assistance. The K-FIT loan is forgiven on an annual basis over ten years at a rate of ten percent (10%) a year. A summary of what the program publishes; not a loan offer or advice. Amounts, limits and funding change without notice.
At a glance
Who qualifies
Each answer comes from the program's page. "Not stated — ask" means its page doesn't make it clear: ask before you apply.
Source text
Buyers must meet the requirements of the applicable PHFA first mortgage program, and must also meet the requirements associated with the Keystone Forgivable in Ten Years Loan Program (K-FIT) … The K-FIT program requires all borrowers to have a minimum credit score of 660. … Assistance can only be used for the minimum required downpayment and/or closing costs. … The minimum loan amount is $500. … The K-FIT loan Program may be used on Conventional, FHA, VA or RD loans. … The asset limitation of liquid funds may not be greater than $50,000 after deducting the funds needed to close on the loan. - First-time buyers only Not stated — ask
- Homebuyer course required Not stated — ask
- Minimum credit score 660
- Income limit The source does not mention one
- Price limit Per the program table
- Mortgages it works with FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional
- Immigration requirement Not stated — ask
- Accepts ITIN? Not stated — ask
- Spanish materials Not stated — ask
- Program status The source does not say whether it is open — ask
- Where it applies All of Pennsylvania
What its page says about being open
Its page does not say whether the program is open or has funds. Ask the lender or the agency before counting on it. Read on the official page on November 5, 2026.
Your area in numbers
What buying costs in Pennsylvania
The program covers all of Pennsylvania. The first column is Pennsylvania's figure; the second runs from the lowest to the highest among its counties. Limits change by county: check yours.
The typical home value ($254,500) fits within Pennsylvania's FHA limit ($541,287).
| Figure | Pennsylvania | Lowest to highest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $254,500 | $88,900 (Cameron County) to $485,600 (Chester County) | U.S. Census Bureau |
| FHA limit (one-unit home) | $541,287 | $541,287 (Adams County) to $630,200 (Philadelphia County) | HUD |
| Conforming limit (one-unit home) | $832,750 | $832,750 (Adams County) to $1,209,750 (Pike County) | FHFA |
| HUD low income (80%), household of 4 | $72,650 | $68,950 (Armstrong County) to $98,150 (Philadelphia County) | HUD |
Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024) · FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data) · Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data) · Income Limits (HUD) (Fiscal year 2026)
Step by step
How to use it, step by step
Each step comes from what the program's page says. What its page leaves out is further down, in the questions.
Find a participating lender-
Ask first whether it is open
Its page does not say whether it is open or still has funds. That is the first thing to ask.
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Pick a mortgage it works with
According to its page, the help is used together with a FHA, VA, USDA and Conventional loan. Each loan type has its own requirements.
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Check your score: the published minimum is 660
That is the program's minimum; the lender may ask for more. If you are short, a housing counselor can explain how to raise it.
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Find a participating lender: state programs do not take applications directly; the lender reserves the assistance while processing your mortgage.
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Compare the total cost before you sign
Ask about the total cost. The mortgage with assistance may carry a higher rate than without it, and some programs charge for the course or a fee.
Before you call
What to ask
Its page leaves 8 points unclear. Write them down for when you talk to Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.
What its page does not say
- Is it open now, and does it still have funds?
- Is it only for first-time buyers?
- Do you require a homebuyer course? Which ones do you accept, and what do they cost?
- Is there an income limit for my household?
- Is there a maximum price for the home?
- Which immigration status or residency documents do you ask for?
- Do you accept an ITIN?
- Do you have materials or staff in Spanish?
Worth asking for this kind of help
- After how many years is the loan forgiven, and what happens if I sell or refinance before then?
Against the others
How it compares with Pennsylvania's other programs
The 4 programs we checked in Pennsylvania, with the same fields from their official pages. "Doesn't say" means its page does not make it clear.
It is one of 3 programs in Pennsylvania, out of 4, whose page does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer. It is one of 4 out of 4 that publish an amount with the figure in their own wording. It is the only program in Pennsylvania on our list with "forgivable" help. It covers the whole state; one program on the list is only for a city or a county.
Swipe the table to see every column.
| Program | Kind of help | Published amount | First-time buyers only | Course required | Accepts ITIN | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keystone Forgivable in Ten Years Loan Program (K-FIT)this program | Forgivable | Up to 5% of the price | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| Keystone Advantage Assistance Loan | Repayable | Up to 4% of the price, capped at $6,000 | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| Keystone Due At Time of Expiration Loan Program (K-DATE) | Deferred | Up to 8% of the price | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| Philly First Home | Grant | Up to $10,000 | Yes | Yes | Doesn't say | Philadelphia, Philadelphia County |
Sources
How we checked this program
We read the program's official pages on November 5, 2026 and copied their text as it appears on them. We add no amounts or requirements those pages do not state, and a program is listed as open or closed only when its page says so.
We check every program again. If more than 180 days pass without a check, the page says so.
Get free help applying
A HUD-approved housing counselor explains the program's requirements, goes over your numbers and tells you what to ask the lender. They do not sell loans.
Find a counselor (HUD)Read before you apply
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Help and programs
Down payment assistance: how it works
What down payment assistance is, the types that exist (grant, forgivable or deferred second loan, tax credit), who qualifies and where to find it.
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Mortgage loans
FHA loan: down payment, insurance, limits and who qualifies
How an FHA loan works: the down payment and credit score HUD requires, MIP mortgage insurance, your county limit, the home and the residency rules.
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Mortgage loans
VA home loans: who qualifies, the COE and what it costs
How a VA home loan works: who qualifies, getting your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), the funding fee and the rule that you must live in the home.
Your county
Price and income limits depend on the county. Your county page has the typical value, the FHA limit and the counseling agencies that can walk you through the application.